The hit occurred late in the first quarter when an impromptu reverse set up Graham’s big moment. Hawaii's Bubba Poueu-Luna received a handoff in motion but reversed field after running out of real estate.

Improvising in the backfield is seldom rewarded in football. However, in this case, Graham saved Poueu-Luna's proverbial bacon when he stepped in and jackhammered USC’s Kevon Seymour before the wideout was taken down out of bounds.

The hit was legal, although there are undoubtedly a few people in Southern California who might believe otherwise. To say that Hawaii fans were excited by the block, however, would be an understatement.

This is the kind of block that earns a quarterback the respect of his teammates—something Graham, a transfer from Ohio State, could use in his first season with the Rainbow Warriors.

The block was about the only time Graham found himself with the upper hand against the Trojans, however. The Buckeye transplant struggled mightily against USC’s blanketing defense. He threw four picks and was sacked seven times over the course of the game, and the Trojans went on to win handily, 30-13.

It wasn’t the best start for the Rainbow Warriors, but all isn’t bleak for Hawaii fans.

You have a quarterback who isn’t afraid to get his shoulder pads dirty, and that’s more than most teams can say.